Labor looks to hold Bendigo despite strong Liberal challenge

Bendigo's next federal MP says her party's strong track record in central Victoria helped to get her over the line in Saturday's election.

Lisa Chesters appears certain to hold onto the seat for Labor, although a strong challenge from her Liberal Party opponent, Greg Bickley, has reduced the ALP's margin.

Labor has suffered a 10 per cent drop in its primary vote in Bendigo and pre-poll ballots are still being counted.

Ms Chesters says she is looking forward to being part of a new generation bringing renewal to the ALP, despite being in opposition.

She will take over from the retiring MP Steve Gibbons.

"So we always knew it was going to be close but at the end of the day we've held on and the reason why I believe that Labor's held on here in Bendigo is because we've got a great track record of achievement and we stand up for the issues that people really care about, like jobs, health and education," she said.

Also in Bendigo, the Greens suffered a 3 per cent drop in first preferences and the Nationals claimed 5 per cent of the vote in their first appearance since 1998.

None of the other candidates managed to secure more than 3 per cent.

Elsewhere in the region, Labor is only just clinging on in the seat of McEwen but other incumbents have comfortably retained their seats.

As counting continues, there is a margin of less than 100 votes in McEwen, which takes in parts of the Macedon Ranges.

Labor incumbent Rob Mitchell is just a whisker in front of the former state Liberal MP Donna Petrovich, despite a 9 per cent swing against the ALP.

The final result may not be known for days.

The incumbent Liberals' Sharman Stone in Murray, and Dan Tehan in Wannon, were easily returned.

The central Victorian farmer and former Victorian Farmers Federation president Andrew Broad looks likely to retain Mallee for the Nationals but the electorate may lose its mantle as Australia's safest conservative seat after a Liberal challenge eroded its margin.